HISTORY OF FLATONIA
RAILROAD TOWN
Historical Flatonia, Texas EXPLORING FLATONIA TODAY AND YESTERDAY, A TOWN WITH HISTORY DATING BACK TO 1841 Flatonia is very proud of their charming little town and its Czech and Flatonia is still a well-known and scenic spot for train watchers, boastGerman heritage, beautiful landscapes, ranches and countryside sur- ing one of Texas’ longest standing, manually operated railroad switching towers with North-South, East-West cross rails. Flatonia was a market rounding their town. town for rich agricultural area, on one of this state’s There are several bed and breakfasts in country setearliest railroads (chartered 1841 by the Republic of Pictured above is the tings, a beautiful historic hotel located just one block Texas). Situated on land granted in 1840s to rancher Flatonia Fair in 1917. Photo from the downtown area, lovely cottages recently William A. Faires. courtesy of the E. A. Arnim renovated just on the east end of town and three Museum in Flatonia. hotels conveniently located on I-10. There are a wide Germans began to settle here in 1860s, and soon variety of antique and gift shops, pharmacy, and oldneeded a shipping point for their products. Sailing world museum and more ... all located in our Historic master Friedrich Wilhelm Flato (1820-1899) and his wife Sophie, of the German Colony, had a store about 2 miles south of downtown area. here. Flatonia is a community of about 1,500, centrally located between four major Texas cities – Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Victoria. It was In the 1870s, Czech immigrants arrived, and the Galveston, Harrisburg established in 1873 and named for the pioneer merchant F. W. Flato. It and San Antonio Railroad (delayed by Civil War, 1861-65) was built to this became a melting pot for English, German, Bohemian, Czech and Italian point. John Cline, F. W. Flato, John Lattimore, and railroad president T. W. immigrants. Pierce founded Flatonia on Oct. 16, 1873, naming it for the Flato family.
FLATONIA, TEXAS |
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